The Spirit

Few characters in comics history carry the weight and wonder of The Spirit, Will Eisner's masked crimefighter who burst onto the scene on June 9, 1940, as the centerpiece of a groundbreaking newspaper comic supplement that would help define visual storytelling for generations. Born in the Golden Age and still appearing in print across an astonishing 85-year span — with 633 catalog appearances and nine key issues to his name — this is a character whose longevity speaks for itself. Eisner's virtuoso page design and noir atmosphere made The Spirit a landmark of the medium, and the rich cast surrounding him — Commissioner Dolan, Ellen Dolan, and others — gives his world a warmth and texture that keeps readers coming back. Whether you're diving into the original Register and Tribune Syndicate strips, the celebrated Archives editions, or any of the revivals that followed, The Spirit is quite simply essential comics.